SAB Annual Workshop: Exhilarating!

Every year it is so exciting to see the SAB students at this point of transition, moving from talented student to professional ballet dancer. The theater is always jam-packed with family, friends and supporters. This is never a small amateur recital - it is a full blown production, which always includes Balanchine choreography, live music, and dedicated beautiful dancers, expertly prepared and coached by their teachers.

I love going every year - it is truly a highlight of the early summer NYC ballet season!
This is the third year since my daughter was on this side of her dancing life, and I barely know any of the students any longer, but for the afternoon I felt swept up in their hopes and dreams, and I wish them all happy dancing for many years to come.

On the program was Allegro Brillante, by Balanchine, staged by Suki Schorer. The lead couple was Angelica Generosa and Harrison Ball. Next was Circus Polka, by Robbins, staged by Garielle Whittle which shows off the children's division: 48 children, including 16 of the littlest ones you can imagine. Third was Les Gentilhommes, by Martins, staged by Albert Evans and Arch Higgins, nine young men dancing to Handel. The big, grand piece to end it all was Who Cares? by Balanchine, staged by Susan Pilarre. The leads were Peter Walker, with Meaghan Dutton-O'Hara in pink, Bianca Bulle in crimson, and Lindsay Turkel in blue, with a large cast of 20 more.

In the program it was announced that this year's winners of the Mae L. Wien Award for outstanding promise are Angelica Generosa (aged 17 originally from South River, NJ), Meaghan Dutton-O'Hara (17 from Mount Airy, MD), Harrison Ball (18 from Sullivans Island) and Peter Walker (18 from Fort Myers, FL). After Workshop, many students disperse to start their first jobs. Perhaps we will see some with NYCB as apprentices next year? We can hope! Congratulations to all!

And here is Paul Kolnik's photo of Angelica Generosa and Harrison Ball in Allegro Brillante from the June 9th NYTimes: with a link to Alastair Macaulay's review here